The Legal Equestrian

Ecogold: A full review & endorsement

So, every once in a while, we switch equine products. As some of you guys may know, I have been a huge Ogilvy fan for quite some time. In fact, my review of their half pad is what launched me into blogosphere popularity. However, I’ve come to try other half pads since then, namely Ecogold, and I have found them to be a better fit for my horse and myself.

Is Ogilvy a bad pad? No, not at all. It is honestly a personal preference, and as you know, many people say you can either like one or the other. Lately, I’ve been finding myself using Ecogold more and Ogilvy less.

To recap, even though I’ve done many reviews on Ecogold, their pads are:

  • Made of high-resilience foam
  • Non-slip
  • Some are vented, such as the Jumper Flip Half Pad , which also comes in a variety of colors and can be reversed for showing purposes if you don’t want a color look
  • Hypoallergenic
  • 100 percent breathable (super important for hot climates)
  • Washable (makes life easy)
  • Shock absorbent (good for your horse and you)
  • Move impact laterally on the horse’s back to minimize stress (amazing for your horse)
  • Some come with a CoolFit technology to further reduce sweating and heat (it really works)!
  • Comes for a variety of disciplines (this is always a good thing)

I currently own three half pads and two regular pads: the Stabilizer Half Pad, the Jumper Flip Half Pad, the Hunter Half Pad (this seems to be no longer available, but the Stabilizer Half Pad can double as a hunter half pad), and the Hunter CoolFit Pad.

I mainly show in the Hunter CoolFit Pad. It is perfectly contoured and accented with fleece for that classic, traditional look. I school in the Stabilizer or the Jumper Flip. My trainer has also become partial to the Hunter Flip as well.

Additionally, I own a regular saddle pad which boasts all the qualities of the half pads.

I adore the quality of the pads. Additionally, my Jumper Flip Half Pad; heck, all of my pads from Ecogold NEVER seem to get dirty, which is quite a feat considering they are around dirty animals all day.

Additionally, their customer service is amazing. I’ve never once had a problem contacting anyone from Ecogold, and they even offer saddle pads with custom logos!

My horses love these pads, and although they don’t fit every horse I own, they’re pretty damn reliable and easy to use on any horse. I also notice a difference in my own physique when riding (no back pain!), which is a huge plus. I’ve noticed a difference in my horse’s willingness to work under saddle, get round, and overall comfort.

Again, each pad is a personal preference, and I know many people who swear by Ogilvy, EquiFit, or even Invictus. My personal preference? Ecogold.

Check them out on the web here or on their social media!

ps. Their products are endorsed by the likes of Brittni Raflowitz, McLain Ward, Scott Stewart (whom my trainer worked and rode for, for many years), Boyd Martin, Karen O’Connor, and Doug Payne. You can see their whole Pro Team here.

pps. I am in no way endorsed by or sponsored by Ecogold. This is a 100 percent bias free review based on my own experiences and opinions.

Ecogold CoolFit™ Saddle Pad: New and improved

Ecogold CoolFit™ Dressage Saddle Pad

Ecogold is known for making saddle pads and half pads that benefit both rider and horse. I own quite a few of Ecogold’s products and have done reviews on many of them. Recently, the company released a new and improved version of its CoolFit™ Saddle Pad. According to a press release, the company has

“integrated smart textiles in its CoolFit™ Saddle Pad to create an intelligent saddle pad. Smart textiles are materials that can sense and react to environmental conditions or or stimuli from mechanical, thermal, chemical, electric or magnetic sources. Thanks to the innovative smart textiles, the CoolFit™ saddle pad senses the sweat of the horse and reacts by reducing its temperature, providing a healthier and more comfortable ride.”

What does this mean? When your horse sweats, and that sweat comes into contact with the pad, the temperature of that sweat is reduced by 9 degrees Fahrenheit or 5 degrees Celsius.

It is available in two different dressage, cross country, and jumper styles, and four different hunter styles. It is also non-slip, ergonomically designed, and shock absorption to protect your horse’s back.

They all retail for $195.

For a video showing how this technology works, press play below.

Book Review: Unrelenting: The Real Story: Horses, Bright Lights and My Pursuit of Excellence by George Morris

I recently read George Morris’ new book Unrelenting: The Real Story: Horses, Bright Lights and My Pursuit of Excellence. Mr. Morris warned it would be raw, uncensored, and the real story. He was right. In addition, it was peppered with quotes from those who have worked with him in the past and who know him. It truly shows the real story behind the hunt seat legend, and he leaves no detail uncovered.

It took me a while to finish the book. I am actually a quick reader, but I soaked in every detail, wanting to know more about the man most hunt seat equestrians look up to. I found the book engaging, interesting, and like he said, raw and real.

He goes through his story decade by decade, which I appreciated. There were a few things that surprised me most about him:

  • He was a timid rider;
  • He was a party boy;
  • He rode mostly Thoroughbreds, popular back then;
  • He is noted as kind and generous by many individuals quoted (not that I think he is mean, but he is known for being tough);
  • He used his perfectionism to his advantage;
  • He sometimes let a student wallow in their mistakes rather than disciplining or yelling at them

I found the book to be inspiring. As I said, one of the most surprising things was that Mr. Morris was a timid rider. I am a timid rider. However, he worked through that and got to where he is today. I also find inspiration in his perfectionism and how he uses it to his advantage, not letting it get to him in a negative way. That is something on which I need to work.

Another big thing is the popularity of Thoroughbreds back when he was honing his craft. I never knew this; after all, warmbloods are mostly, if not all, of what I’ve ridden and know.

He speaks candidly about the horse world; its weaknesses; America’s weaknesses; Europe’s strengths; and being gay, which I think is hugely important to recognize in the equestrian community. Male riders don’t see a stigma, as far as I know, for being gay, but you don’t see as many female riders coming out. As an avid LGBTQIA+ rights individual, I really appreciated his emphasis, though small, on this aspect of the community.

He is truly an inspiration, and I found his book to be motivating. I’ve even given it away twice, and I think anyone serious about riding would benefit from reading this text. It covers a lot of detail, and I learned a lot from it. I also found a lot of quotes that resonated with me, which I will be covering on the blog decade by decade.

For those of you that have read Hunter Seat Equitation, this book is a lot less technical. There are teachable excerpts and a general focus on technique and riding, but if you are looking to truly learn the correct, recommended way to ride hunt seat, I would encourage you to read the aforementioned book. I encourage you to read both books, in fact.

The book is long, but it is well worth it. It tells you all about Mr. Morris’ experiences – horse-related and non-horse-related – and it gives an idea of how things were prior to 2016. My biggest recognitions, as I said, are highlighted above.

Overall, the book is well-written, thoughtful, and very thorough – something I greatly appreciated. I also appreciated the quotes from those who have worked with him over the years, though I do think some equestrians were missing (Lillie Keenan, for example).

So what are you waiting for? Pick up a copy of this book and crack it open to learn even more than you did before. You won’t regret it.

Have you read the book? What do you think? Leave a comment below.

 

It’s okay not to be ready for something

Today’s post is short and sweet.

I signed up for a clinic a few months ago, and I was super pumped for it. Until my migraines got really bad and I could barely ride or function on a normal basis. Still, I had time to prepare for the clinic, so I wasn’t giving up just yet.

Well, the clinic is April 11, and all the sudden it’s April 6, and I am nowhere near ready.

So today, I had to make the tough decision to take myself out of the clinic. Am I bummed? Of course. But there will be more. And nothing could be worse than showing up at a clinic with someone well-known and me not being prepared or ready at all. That would just be embarrassing and detrimental to my learning and to my horse.

So the next time you think you have to do something, whether it’s a show, a clinic, or something else, and you don’t feel ready and don’t have the time to get ready, it’s okay to say no. Putting yourself, your confidence, and your horse first should always be the number one priority – no matter what.

Getting to know you… Senior Editor Liv Godfrey

pc: Liv Godfrey

pc: Liv Godfrey

How did you start riding?: My elementary school had a fall festival every year with pony rides, and after riding all 5 ponies, I decided I wanted to start taking riding lessons.

When did the horse bug bite?: I was 7 when I started seriously riding, 6 when I first fell in love.

She is from: Boca Raton, FL

She is: I’m a junior in high school. I work for a family with two kids, and I ride horses.

How often does she ride?: 5-6 days a week

What does she rider?: hunter/jumper

What divisions does she show in?: Last year I did a few hopeful hunters and special hunter classes with Lulu, but this year we plan on doing the jumpers and some equitation.  

Tell us about your horse. Do you own him/her?: Own. My horse’s name is Lulu and she’s a 6 year old Chestnut OTTB mare. Lulu loves donuts, fruit loops, and oatmeal creme pies. I bought Lulu blind online from New Vocations Racehorse Adoption out of Ohio, and when I got her she had just turned 4. She was about 1500 pounds underweight, nervous, had terrible feet, and walked with a few laps of trot in her. I’m a lucky girl with a great horse, who now goes around like a pro and has a ton of scope. Lulu is my miracle horse!

Why TLE?: I always followed the blog and loved the idea of writing about horses. I am a huge advice giver and love raving about products that work really well to people at the barn. I also love writing about motivation, persevering, and patiences.

Favorite article: My article about necessary selfishness.

How do you get ideas for articles?: Before bed, in the shower, riding, at the barn; whenever they pop into my mind.

Goals: To win classes at A/AA circuit shows and become a more soft, confident, smooth, and consistent rider with my horse.

What does Liv look for in a guest writer?: Creativity! As the launcher of the submissions program and the Senior Editor, I see a lot of  repetivity. Write about something we’ve never heard or seen before.

How does Liv spend time away from horses?: Friends and other things. Parties are fun too.

Future horse-related goals?: To run a successful boarding, rehab, and sale farm.  

pc: Liv Godfrey

pc: Liv Godfrey

Favorite “famous” horse? Rothchild

Favorite “famous” rider?” Beezie Madden

Riding strengths and weaknesses?: My leg, upper body, and eye are my strengths; my weaknesses are my hands and arms.

Must have horse items: Equifit, Parlanti, Samshield, and Ecolicious Equestrian. I couldn’t pick 3.

Must have equestrian apparel?: Sporthorse Lifestyle, Personally Preppy, and Hunt Club.

Betsee Parker’s money or McLain’s eq?: Dr. Bestsee Parker’s money.

Rider Liv looks up to?: Beezie Madden because she’s a flawless rider, has a great head on her shoulders, fantastic horses, and a humane mindset. She puts the horses’ well-being, health, and comfort first and tests every product for months before signing a sponsorship. [She is] truly a model horsewoman.

Horse-related accomplishment: Bringing Lulu along.

Other pets:  Yes. I have 2 dogs, Max who’s a mutt and Frankie who’s a pug.

Favorite riding weather?: Cool and sunny spring, fall, or summer days.

pc: Liv Godfrey

pc: Liv Godfrey

WEF or Ocala: WEF

Saddle brand?: CWD

Showing colors?: Subtle colors on EquiFit boots, show coats, and helmet monograms in the eq ring that look sharp (such as hunter green, maroon, navy, french blue, cream, etc).

Non-horse-related brands: Too Faced, Benefit, American Eagle, and Nordstrom.